Alliant Techsystems Operations, known as ATK, was awarded a $173,6 million modification (P00059) to contract (W15QKN-13-C-0074) for Precision Guidance Kit M1156.

A statement from the Pentagon claims that the work will be performed in Plymouth, Minnesota, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 14, 2022.

The M1156 Precision Guidance Kit (PGK), is a U.S. Army-designed precision guidance system to turn existing 155 mm artillery shells into smart weapons.

The M1156 is a GPS guidance kit with proximity and detonating fusing functions. This fuse, when attached to the tip of a 155 mm High Explosive (HE) projectile, helps to correct its ballistic trajectory. Thus, turning a current stockpile of conventional HE ammunition into near precision projectiles while simultaneously reducing the logistic footprint for our armed forces.

Small aerodynamic fins allow the system to steer the shell on target. Its GPS receiver compares the PGK’s flight pattern to the coordinates of where it should hit, and the fins adjust its path to match where the round will actually impact. A fail safe exists where if the shell does not impact within 150 m (490 ft) of the intended target, it will land but not explode; the PGK “decides” five seconds after launch whether it expects to impact close enough to detonate.

With the acquisition of this technology, Troopers will have the ability to fire rounds with greater precision and lethality while reducing the potential for collateral damage to friendly troops and non-combatants.